Feed mechanism for metal or other sheets.



F. EBERHART. FEED MECHANISM FOR METAL OR OTHER SHEETS.\

APPLIOATION FILED mums. 1910.

1,003,998. Patented sept 26, 1911.

is 0Q 00 F. EBBRHART. FEED MEGHAL'ISM FOR METAL OR OTHER SHEETS.arruonmn FILBVD mn.a,1s1o.

F. BBERHART.

m1) MECHANISM FOR METAL 0B OTHER SHEETS. APPLICATION rum) nun. a, 1910.

1,003,998. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

Q a SHEETHHEB'I' s.

F. EBBRHART. FEED MECHANISM FOR METAL OR OTHER SHEETS. APPLIUATIOH mum11.3, 1910.

1,003,998. Patent d Sept. 26, 1911.

6 BIIEETSSHEBT 4.

.F. EBERHA-RT. FEED MECHANISM FOR METAL OR OTHER snnm's. APPLIOATIOHFILED MAB-.3, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

- P. BBERHART. rain MECHANISM FOR METAL on 01 mm smzn'rs APPLICATIONFILED XAR. 3, 1910. 1,003,998.

Irwenr Eekkzr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX EBERHAB'I, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNO E 10 ERICA-H GAIN OOHPANY,F

- NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY;

FEED MECHANISM FOR ETAL on cram Specification of Letters Patent.Patented Sept. 26, 191 1. Application filed March 8, 1910. Serial Ho.547,099.

mechanism for feeding metal or other sheets to various machines, such asrotary printing presses, sheet metal slittin machines, tin platecleaning machines, tin plate coating machines, etc.

The object of my invention is to provide a sheet feed mechanism of asimple, efficient and durable construction, which will facilitote thefeeding or delivery of metal or other sheets to such machines, and whichwill operate to time the feeding or delivery of the sheet with the feedslide or conveyer which delivers the sheet to the rollers or otherdevices of the machine.

' The sheet feed mechanism embodyin my invention. comprises incodperative com ination, a main feed. table and feeder, preferably areciprocating feed slide with fingers for automatically feedingthe'sheets to the rollers or other devices of the press;

slitting machine, coating machine, cleanin or other machine, asupplemental feed table and automatically operated feed rollers forautomatically deliverin the sheets one by one to the main feed ta 1eandmain feeder and thus also timing the proper delivery thereof tothemain feed table and feeder, a vertically movable feed table upon whichthe pile or stack of sheets to be fed is placed, and mechanism forautomatically raisin 40 thesame the. thickness of a sheet at eac strokeor feeding movement of the main feeder to automatically maintain the topof the stack or pile of sheets at the properv height or levelill-relationto. the supplemental feed table and feed rollers to facilitate the delivery of the sheets oneby one by hand to saidsupplelnentalfced table and 1 feed rollers. 3

My invention also cofisf sts in the novel. 0. construction of parts anddevices and in; the

novel combinations and e:iib-combinati'ons of partsiand vdengices hereinshown and dethei;

iii.

' "f ism "alum: 4,;

part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a plan 1 view of a sheet feedmechanism ordevice embodying my invention. Fig. 2 'is'ga side elevation.Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section on line'3-3 of Fig. 1 andFig. 4

is a verticaleross section on line 4'4 of Fig- 2. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 showa modii'yiw' tion, Fig. 5 beings. partial plan similar to Fig. -1, Fig.6 a partial vertical section simi;

lar to Fig. 3 and Fig. 7 a detail, vertical section showin certain partsof Fig. 6 in a different position. In the drawin A A represent, :(diawgrammatically), riven rollers orother de-w vices of any suitablemachine, such, for can ample, as a. rotary printing press, a sheetslitting machine, a tin plate eoating"ma-f chine, a tin plate cleaningmachine or other machine for performing operations upon metal or othersheets. 1 B is the main feeder or conve er by which the sheets are fedor delivered one by'one to the machine, having the'rollers or devices A;the same neferably consisting of a reciprocating sli e having finger'sb" andgo moving back and forth on suitable guides B on the stationaryframe A of the m--; chine.

C is the main feed table upon or along" which the sheets are moved bythe feeder'B. 35

The feed fingers b are preferably yieldin fingers, having a pivotalconnection I) wit the feed slide and backed up or supported by sprifi'gsb surrounding a rodorstem '6', carried by a v ivoted arm I) connectedwith the slide y a shaft b. 7 The stern passes through a verticalslot bidthef. feeder finger b and has a nut. b at its outer ends The stem b isprovided with an ad justing nut b. and also with a not bf'ior gadjustirliig the tensionof the spring, j feeder is preferably operatedcated as required by -meansfoff fl- F." on the shaftging'elrolleflfiiigifilhe be'nt leverlllpyliic 1s connected-h a; B withthe" feeder slide, y

The feed. tgible 0 preferably, foi a phir'ality of'barsor gtrips;Islets;orropenings betweenflthem for;ithe..;, e lg, i fingers it up through eed-ioo tab e .CI a-r e lr ummit harm r n :e tt 'i me: reaka e.

n m are er... n

P a tan and E jthefeupplemenjgal i 1 lower is preferably a metal rollerof uniform diameter from end to end.

The upper feed roller D preferably consists of a pair of, short rollersor disks furnished with elastic or rubber tires or treads d, and theshaft thereof (1, is preferably mounted movably on vibrating arms orlevers d, fulcrumed on the frame by a pm at, so that the feed rollers]?can. be automatically Se through 01 gear g 6 arated from thelower-rollerD and broug t .which'meshes with a bevel gear 9' on a shaftg whi h-has a bevel gear g meshing with a bevel. gear d on the shaftd'of the lower roller D. The shaft d has a spur g ar at meshing withaspur gear at on the shaft ,of' the upper feed rollers I), than drivingthe upper feed roller, when its gear is lowered into contact with thegear on the shaft of the lower feed roller. a

, The so plemental feed table E is provided wi side guides E, adjustablyse I cured by set screws E which pass through slots E in these sideguides or gages; One of the side guides or gages E is urnished with alight 5 ringE to press the edge of the sheet snug y ainst the oppositeguide E The sidegul e or gage carrying c spring E is arranged at anangle to the ath of the sheets. Above the feed table inclined guide{arms I) are provided to aid in directing the sheets into the feedrollers 'I qie vertically movable feed table Fupon which the pile orstack of sheets X to'be fed is provide with a ga or guide fyfor one edgeof the sheets as o the pile or staekfX to abut against, and is referablymoved u and down as required y rotary screws F,

' mounted'in suitable standards A on the frame of the, machine andenglagil'lng threaded sleeves or nuts f with whic e vertically. movablefeed 'tablqF is provided. The threaded sleeves or nuts are preferablyfurnished with horimnta agld V a wooden. board. :The standards framepmfereblybriced orrcohnedeiby emental' frame screws the slipping of thefeed Lif -Theo y of the vertically movab e movement of. thojn'aln,

e s s-ff" meshing bevel are on the cross or connectin a shaft whi isfurnished with a ratchet and ,is'operated by a-pawl f on the awl arm orlever f", and which is connected y alink f with the bent operating leverB" of, the main feeder B by a clamp Phavingj'a, pivot shank fittinglooselyin a round hole in the feeder lever Bvto give said clam -'arocking connection with saidlever B. clamp f" afl'ords an adjustableconnection between the lever B' and the link f". E- spring pawl fprevents the ratchet f' from turnin in the wrongqdirection." I "f Theaudio lever 5 pivoted at h to" tbs frame by engagementwith a pin f"on'th epawl f' serves to raise the owl out ofgagement with-the ratchet wenever the operator may, desire. The lever H has a vcurved arm Mprovidedwith a cam face. It

adapted to enga the cam face It oi-a spring stop h which holds thestopIlever H= in 'it's raised osition. The lever is near the base of t emachine and is designedto be operated by the foot. 'A'further stop ofdisengaging lever H is provided in convenient reach of the ziperatorshand and is! connected by a link with the stop or disen Eing lever H. xe supplemental frame A is pmferabg furnished with antifriction r'ollersor'whe' K with which th'efeed table F may engage when in-its lowermostposition to facilitate table F intoposition upon its screw operatedsleeves or nuts f with a new or full stack ,or pile of sheets thereon.By' thus havin the feedtable F strolre or feedin feeder B, refers, 1ythrough on the aha of the screws 1 removably 'connected witits-elevating devices, nuts or sleeves, the work'o'f' puttmg'a s "orpile of sheets. in place on the vertically movable feed table of themachine is materiall facilitated.

One 6 the screws F is preferably furnished with bevel gear f a-tjtsupper end, meshing with a bevelgear f" having a handle or crank arm f"80 that the vertically movable table or support F may be raised by handwhen desired, and also to facilitate the loweiing-ofthe table or suport- F gwhen all the sheets of the stack or pi e have been fedtherefrom. The sup lemental frame A upon which the 'vertilyrmovable'feed table-or sheet support 'F and the so plemental feedtable E and supplemental eeder D are mounted, isreferab y ina separatepiece from the A and imbly supported suitable guides or ways 12 to raisethe ting. are vautomatically operatedor feed e Fthe'thickness of asheetstench A ifl. F v v' I shaftM'ywhiehnna suitable lever or wrenchhf 'jthesupplemental 13o frame in res ect to the main frame, as may be requiredf dr operation upon sheets of diffcrent sizes.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, which is the constructionI prefer to employ instead of raising and lowering the upper one of thefeed rollers I) D in time with the main feeder B as hereinbeforedescribed, through the action of the cam B and the connections forraising and lowering said roller, I mount the upper roller D in movablebearings 3 backed up by springs 4, and I employ a movable stop device orsheet feed controller I in front of the feed rollers D D and which isautomatically moved in and out of the path of the sheets in cooperationwith the movement of the feeder B. The sheet stop device or feedcontroller P preferably consists of a pair of vibratingfingcrseachhaving a shoulder P to engage the front edge of the sheet andeach secured by apivot pm p to an operating arm 39 on rocklshuft p, thearm p of which is connected by a pin and slot 12', a with the link Elwhiclris connected to tie arm B of the lever B which is actuated by thecam B A spring p, is interposed between the feeder finger-"P and itsoperative arm p and the finger and armhave.inter-engaging dogs orshouldeis p" 'p". to cause the arm to retract the pivoted finger T fromthe path of the sheets aiiflcompress the spring. At the proper timejtlie-cam' B" through the connectionsnbov mentioned raises the arm 72 andretracts the sheet device or controller P so as to allow the sheet'topass into the feed rollers I) D. Asgthe sheet asses between the feedrollers D D the s eet itself will hold the spring fingers P in theirretracted position and as soon as the sheet passes, t e spring 72' willrestore the fingers P to their original position in front of the feedrollers shown in ig. 6 and thus prevent any possi elinsertion of asecond sheetejn the rollers until the proper time when the final feedfingers b have receded in position to take-u .the nexfsheet Theautomatically movablh spring-held feed controller fingers P thus performthe same function as the verticallymovable or-dmp rollerl) in theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The use of-the feedcontrollerfingers P renders it impossible; for the operator to shpve the aheeti'ntoo far which is "liable to cause buckling of the sheet, a"

I claimsj 1. In. a. sheet feed mechanism, the combinationof a mainfecdtable and feeder, of a zsupplemental feml, table and feeder, and averticallfyijmoifnble feed table, said supple en'iental' saidvertically" movable feed table, and said end table and feeder beingbetween main feed table and feeder, substantially as 2. In a sheet feedmechanism, the comibination' of a main feed table and feeder, of a suplemental feed table and feeder, a vertical y movable feed table andmeans for automatically raising said last mentioned feed table thethickness of a sheet at each feed-movement of said main feeder, saidsupplemental feed table and feeder being between said vertically movablefeed table and said main feed table and feeder, substantially asspecified.

3. In a sheet feed mechanism, the combination of a main feed table andfeeder, of a supplemental feed table and feeder, a verticallymovablefeed table, and means for controlling the feed action of saidsupple- 0 mental feeder in cotiperation with said main feeder, saidsupplemental feed table and feeder being between said verticall movablefeed table, and said main feed ta lo and feeder, substantially asspecified.

4. In a sheet feed mechanism, the combination of a main feed 'table andfeeder, of a sup lemental feed table, and feeder, a vertica ly movablefeed table, means for automatically raising said last mentioned feed 0table the thickness of a sheet at each feed movement of said mainfeeder, said supplemental feed table and feeder being between saidvertically movable feed table, and said main feed table and feeder, anda device for throwing said raising means out of operation, substantiallyas specified.

5. In a sheet feed mechanism, the combination of a main feed table andfeeder, of a sup leniental feed table and feeder, a ver' tica 1y movablefeed table, means for automatically raising said last mentioned feedtable the thickness of a sheet at each feedmovement of said main feeder,said supplemental feed table and feeder being between said verticallmovable feed table, and said main feed table and feeder, and means forcontrolling the feed action of said supplemental feeder in. cofiperationwith said main feeder, substantially as specified. 6. In a sheet feemechanism, the combination with an automatically operated sheet feederand a feed table in front thereof, of 'a vertically movable su port fora ilc' of sheets in front ,of said eed table, an means for automaticallyraising said support to maintain the top of the pile of sheets at properheight in. respect to said feeder, substantially .as s ified,

su stantially as specified. 8. The combination with a, feed table andfeeder, of a. vertically movable support" for 125 a pile of sheets infront of said feedtable', and means for automatically raising saidsupport maintain the top of the pile of 7. The Eonibmation with a feedtable and and means for automatically raising said support to maintainthe top of the pile of sheets at proper height in res t to said feedtable and feeder, and a' rther feed table and feeder to which the sheetsare delivered one by one by said first mentioned feeder substantially asspecified.

. 10. in a sheet feedmechanism, the comhination with an automaticallyoperated 7 sheet feeder and a feed table in front thereof, of avertically movable support for: a pile of sheets, and means forautomatically raisin said support to maintain the top of the pile ofshoots at proper height in res ct to said g feedei. nnda further'feedtab e and feeder to which the sheets are delivered one by girieby saidfirst mentioned feeder, substantially as specified.

I'lJIn a sheet feed mechanism, the combination with an automaticallyoperated sheet feeder and a. feed table in front thereof, of avertically movable supportfor a pileof sheets, means for automaticallyrais- 80 ing said support to maintain the top of the pile of sheets atproper height in respect to said feeder, a further feed table and feederto which the sheets are delivered one by one by said first mentionedfeeder, and means for controlling the feed action of said firstmentioned feeder in cooperation with said second mentioned feeder,substantially as specified. f '12. The 40 table and feeder, ofa movablesupport for-a pile of sheets in front of said feedtable. and screws andth ed members for raising said support, substantially as specified.

18. The eombinationwith a sheet feed pile of sheets in front of saidfood table, screws and threaded members for raising said"support, said"support being removably applied to said threaded members; substantia lyasspecified. v V

14. The combination. with a 'sheet feed table and feeder, of a movablesupport for a pile of sheets in front of said feed table,

screws and threaded members for raising.

port, and a frame having rollrs'w said sup facilitate the insertion ofsaid removable --support with the'pile of sheets thereon, substantiallyus, 8pm

15. In a sheet feed uiechanism, the combination of 'a mainfecd. tableand feeder with a supplemental food table and combination with a sheetfeed,

table and feeder, of a movable support for a said vertically movablefeed ism, the 50m? bination of a main food table and feedfirg with a.supplemental feed" table and feed" rollers, a verticall movable feedtable, said supplemental f table and feed rollers being between saidvertically movable feed 15;

' table and said main feed table and feeder.

and a movable sheet stop device in front of said feed, rollers tocontrol the feed" action; thereof in coiiperation with saidmain feeder,and a spring for said step device, '80 substantially ass f 17. In asheet 7 mechanism, the eom-' bination of a food table and feeder with asupplementahfoed table and rollers, a verticaelgg movable, feed'table,said supplemental f table and feed rollers bemgbetween said verticallymovable-food table ind said'main feed-table andfeedr and amovable'sheot-sto device in front o said feed rollers to con l the feedactionfio thereof in ooiiporatio'n' with sai main a feeder and means forodlpmeticallyopera,t-}

said mam' ing e' vise m ma feeder substantially as 18. in a sheet feedmechanisiiii-thejoomas bination with a main food tablo and feeder, of aan plemental feed table and feeder a vertical v movable feedtable, saidsupp emental table and'ifeeder being bet main food table and feedergandmovable spring held stop fingers in the path of the sheets to controlthe feed action of said 'susplemental feeder, substantially as speciv19. In a sheet feed mechanism, the com bination with a main feed tableand feeder, of a supplemental feed table and feeds! l vertical ymovablefeed au pice mental feed table and feederbeing'betw table and said Mmain food table and feederimand movable spring held stop fingers in tpathof'the sheets to control the feed action 0'1 said supplementalfeeder. and meansfor 'operat- 116' ing said step fingers in cooperationwith said-main feeder, substantially as specified. FELIX nsnnnanr. j wimp I H. E. -OLARK,

Cannes E. Escam. v

I ween said vertically movable food table and said 10,

